Refer to the course intro handout for guidelines on working with other students. Remember to submit your solutions in electronic form to cis736ta@ringil.cis.ksu.edu and produce them only from your personal notes (not common scratch work, notes, or visualization software). If you use outside references, cite your reference properly, as always.

1. (20 points) The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Refer to E. R. Tufte’s book of the same title (especially the sections handed out and covered in lecture) for this problem. Attach the graphic(s) you have chosen for this problem in losslessly-compressed (preferably TIFF or GIF) format – use a scanner such as the one in the CIS department library to digitize the image if it is from a printed medium.

1. (10 points) Select a recent data visualization that is identifiably computer-generated, preferably a scientific visualization involving geometric modeling or a statistical data visualization based on some of the methods (texturing, color coding, etc.) covered in class. Your selection may come from the web or from print media, or may be generated using software. Cite the web site (including the URL), book, magazine, or code from which you obtained the visualization. Now, write a short critique of the visualization including one paragraph each on graphical excellence and graphical integrity as discussed in Chapters 1 and 2 of the first Tufte book. Focus on CG design quality and the strengths and weaknesses of the visualization: In what ways does it possess or lack graphical excellence? Is it informative? Intuitive? Clear? Concise? Interesting? In what ways does it possess or lack graphical integrity? Is it accurate? Precise? Honest? How does the CG aspect of the visualization support or detract from these properties?
2. (10 points) Suggest two ways in which you would improve the information design to achieve greater graphical excellence or graphical integrity. (You may also give one suggestion on each).

2. (20 points) Envisioning Information. Refer to E. R. Tufte’s book of the same title (especially the sections handed out and covered in lecture) for this problem. Attach the graphic(s) you have chosen.

1. (10 points) Select a recent object visualization that is identifiably computer-generated. Again, your selection may come from any of the media that the first did. In fact, you may use the same visualization, but focus on the object visualization (as opposed to the quantitative data visualization) aspects. Give a two-paragraph critique of the object visualization. How, if at all, are small multiples, micro/macro design, color, and visual context used to convey information?
2. (10 points) Suggest one way in which you would improve the information design to better convey information about the object. What questions would you be able to efficiently answer using this improved visualization that could not be satisfactorily answered in the original visualization?

3. (20 points) Visual Explanations. Refer to E. R. Tufte’s book of the same title (especially the sections handed out and covered in lecture) for this problem. Attach the graphic(s) you have chosen.

1. (10 points) Select a recent process visualization that is identifiably computer-generated. Again, your selection may come from any of the media that the first did. In fact, you may use the same visualization, but focus on the process visualization (as opposed to the quantitative data and object visualization) aspects. Give a one-paragraph critique of the visualization design. How, if at all, are displays of evidence, pictorial instructions, multiples in space (spatial repetition), and multiples in time (temporal repetition) used to convey information? Then give a one-paragraph critique of the process visualization. How, if at all, are "smallest effective differences" used to tell a story about the multiples in space and time?
2. (10 points) Suggest one way in which you would improve the information design to better convey information about the process. What questions would you be able to efficiently answer using this improved visualization and how would you use the answers to tell a story? Finally, how would you use this story to make a decision or convince a policy-maker of a normative statement (recommendation)?